International media outlets jumped on the story after it was
reported by a Hong-Kong-based newspaper. The story portrayed the
North Korean leader in a particularly cruel and savage way.

In December, the country’s state media reported that the
disgraced uncle of Kim - Jang Song-thaek - had been executed.

The official KCNA news agency said that Jang Song-thaek was
guilty of “attempting to overthrow the state.” The
government called Jang "despicable human scum...who was worse
than a dog."

His death sentence by a military tribunal on December 12 was
carried out immediately. But, no details were provided as to how
he was executed.

Initially, there were reports of the execution by firing squad.
Then emerged the alternative story about the pack of dogs. It was
first spotted on a satirical post on the Chinese Tencent Weibo
site, Reuters reported.

The story was first story posted on December 11
by a blogger critical of North Korea, stating that Jang and five
other aides were killed by dogs. The Hong Kong-based Wen Wei Po
newspaper picked up the story. The report was later noticed by
the Singapore-based Straits Times and then taken up by major US
and European media outlets.

In the meantime new reports have been coming in about Jang’s wife
Kim Kyong-hui death.

South Korean newspaper the Chosun Ilbo quoted a government source
as saying the 67-year-old had either died from a heart attack or
committed suicide.

At the same time, the dissident newspaper located in Japan the
Daily NK, reported that Kim’s aunt actually left North Korea for
medical treatment after a heart attack caused by the stress of
her husband’s purge and execution.

Previously, she is known to have visited medical specialists
abroad for heart treatment, including Singapore and Russia.

Kim Kyong-hui, sister of Kim Jong Un’s father, played a key
leadership role and has not been seen in public since September
10.